Lakes With Algae Problems in North Carolina
50 lakes in North Carolina report elevated algae levels (chlorophyll-a above 20 µg/L). These lakes are most likely to develop blue-green algae blooms during warm, calm summer weather. Avoid swimming during visible blooms and rinse pets after contact.
Ranked List
| # | Lake | County | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus | Algae |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Mattamuskeet | Hyde | D | - | 55 µg/L | 102.5 µg/L |
| 2 | Lake Lee | Union | F | - | 210 µg/L | 90.5 µg/L |
| 3 | Lake Rogers | Granville | F | - | 115 µg/L | 84.5 µg/L |
| 4 | Lake Tabor | Columbus | D | - | 80 µg/L | 66 µg/L |
| 5 | Limestone Lake | Duplin | D | 2.3 ft | 50 µg/L | 63 µg/L |
| 6 | Lake Monroe | Union | F | - | 110 µg/L | 62 µg/L |
| 7 | Turner Reservoir | Chatham | F | 1.6 ft | 80 µg/L | 59 µg/L |
| 8 | Rocky River Reservoir | Chatham | F | 1.9 ft | 70 µg/L | 55.5 µg/L |
| 9 | Lake Twitty | Union | D | - | 80 µg/L | 49 µg/L |
| 10 | Jordan Lake | Chatham | F | 2 ft | 60 µg/L | 48.5 µg/L |
| 11 | Sandy Creek Reservoir | Randolph | F | 2.5 ft | 70 µg/L | 44 µg/L |
| 12 | Graham-Mebane Reservoir | Alamance | D | 2.3 ft | 50 µg/L | 44 µg/L |
| 13 | Harris Lake | Wake | F | 2.5 ft | 90 µg/L | 43 µg/L |
| 14 | Lake Wilson | Wilson | F | - | 100 µg/L | 41.5 µg/L |
| 15 | High Rock Lake | Davidson | D | - | 50 µg/L | 41.5 µg/L |
| 16 | Lake Benson | Wake | D | - | 50 µg/L | 40 µg/L |
| 17 | Lake Thom-A-Lex | Davidson | D | - | 55 µg/L | 40 µg/L |
| 18 | Lake Wheeler | Wake | D | - | 40 µg/L | 38 µg/L |
| 19 | Lake Orange | Orange | D | - | 40 µg/L | 38 µg/L |
| 20 | Sycamore Lake | Wake | D | - | 60 µg/L | 36.5 µg/L |
| 21 | Falls of the Neuse Reservoir | Wake | D | 2.1 ft | 40 µg/L | 36 µg/L |
| 22 | Beaverdam Lake | Wake | D | - | 40 µg/L | 36 µg/L |
| 23 | Town Creek Lake | Rowan | D | - | 60 µg/L | 36 µg/L |
| 24 | B E Jordan Lake | Chatham | D | 2.6 ft | 40.5 µg/L | 35.5 µg/L |
| 25 | Lake Crabtree | Wake | F | - | 100 µg/L | 35.5 µg/L |
| 26 | Buckhorn Reservoir | Wilson | D | - | 40 µg/L | 35 µg/L |
| 27 | Big Lake | Wake | D | - | 65 µg/L | 33.5 µg/L |
| 28 | University Lake | Orange | D | 2.3 ft | 42 µg/L | 33.3 µg/L |
| 29 | Lake Roxboro | Caswell | D | 3 ft | 40 µg/L | 33 µg/L |
| 30 | Reedy Creek Lake | Wake | F | - | 90 µg/L | 33 µg/L |
| 31 | Tar River Reservoir | Nash | D | - | 70 µg/L | 33 µg/L |
| 32 | Glenville Lake | Cumberland | F | 3.1 ft | 60 µg/L | 32.5 µg/L |
| 33 | Apex Reservoir | Wake | D | - | 45 µg/L | 32 µg/L |
| 34 | Coddle Creek Reservoir | Cabarrus | D | - | 30 µg/L | 32 µg/L |
| 35 | Buckhorn Dam Lake | Chatham | F | 2.3 ft | 100 µg/L | 31 µg/L |
| 36 | Robeson Creek Lake | Chatham | D | - | 60 µg/L | 31 µg/L |
| 37 | Lake Reese | Randolph | D | - | 40 µg/L | 31 µg/L |
| 38 | Lake Hampton | Yadkin | D | - | 30 µg/L | 31 µg/L |
| 39 | Lake Hampton Upper End | Yadkin | D | - | 30 µg/L | 31 µg/L |
| 40 | Lake Concord | Cabarrus | D | - | 40 µg/L | 30 µg/L |
| 41 | High Point Lake | Guilford | D | 3 ft | 40 µg/L | 29.5 µg/L |
| 42 | Lake Higgins | Guilford | D | 3 ft | 35 µg/L | 29 µg/L |
| 43 | Lake Burlington | Alamance | D | 2.1 ft | 40 µg/L | 28.5 µg/L |
| 44 | Lake Townsend | Guilford | D | 3.5 ft | 40 µg/L | 28 µg/L |
| 45 | Bass Lake | Wake | C | - | 45 µg/L | 28 µg/L |
| 46 | Lake Brandt | Guilford | D | 3 ft | 40 µg/L | 27.5 µg/L |
| 47 | Blewett Falls Lake | Anson | D | - | 85 µg/L | 27.5 µg/L |
| 48 | Farmer Lake | Caswell | D | 2.1 ft | 55 µg/L | 27 µg/L |
| 49 | Wiggins Mill Reservoir | Wilson | D | - | 70 µg/L | 27 µg/L |
| 50 | Tuckertown Reservoir | Rowan | C | - | 50 µg/L | 27 µg/L |